System for the disposal of garbage and the like



Sept. 17, 1935. I

' SYSTEM FOR THE DISPOSAL F GARBAGE AND THE LIKE Filed Dec 9, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l PK E5.

k IIIHWIHIHH Flex 4 .IIMHH INVENTOR5 M. BIL-UMENTHAL :ET AL I 1 ,7

Sept. 17, 1935. -M. BLUMEN'A'HAL tr AL 1 6- SYSTEM FOR THE DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. *9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO ATTORNEY- Nam Patented Sept. 17, 1935'. I Q, l I i SYSTEM FOR THE DISPOSAL F GARBAGE AND THE LIKE Maurice Blumcnthal and Louis Casper. New York, N. Y.

Application December s, 1932, Serial No. snare llll Cl (or. ire-s) The object of our invention is to provide a system whereby garbage or other refuse materials may be disposed of by incineration, but pre liminary to such incineration, certain chemical sprayer and de'watering' means are provided to treat the garbage or other refuse materials aforesaid, resultingin a speeding up oi such disposal and also to efiect certain economies in the main-- crating process. 1 0 A further object of our invention is to make it possible to conserve the b'y-products obtain able from garbage or the like prior to its actual incineration, also to conserve such material during the incinerating process; and likewise after such incineration shall have been completed.

Our invention pertains particularly in connection with our application forpatent, Serial No. 5,830, filed February 9, 1935 to which it is subject. In connection with the foregoing objects of our invention, a number 'of features in reference to the disposal of garbage'and other refuse material by electrical incineration was not disclosed in our previous application. These features will now be described and such description forms substantially the basis of the present application.

The first of these features relates to the moisturecontent usually present in garbage and other refuse and waste materials. It is generally desirable to eliminate as far as practicable the aforementioned moisture prior to the depositing of such waste materials in an electrical incinerating chamber. This is attained inthe first instance by providing a series of grinding and ture as the garbage or other waste materials are 7 passed between the rollers aforesaid.

And second, in the event the waste materials to be disposed of consist of colloidal solids in 40 liquid suspension, such as is constituent in sewage or slaughter house wastes, it is necessary to employ means for dewatering said materials other than maceration or treatment by squeezing rollers. In that event, a device well known to the art as a centrifuge or machine for the continuous separation of solids from liquids, is employed.

Following the dewatering process, the next step in our invention is the preparation of the waste materials prior to the deposit of the same into the electric incinerator chamber or chambers. This preparation consists of spreading upon the waste materials and intermingling therewith a chemical or chemical combination of low relative cost and which possesses a relatively high elecdewatering rollers which squeezes out the moistrical conductivity and which also readily mixes with the refuse mass. The'mixed mass aforesaid oflers considerably less resistance to an electrical current flow than what would obtain it such materials merely been dewatered by the process I as statw.

en the chemically treated waste materials shall have been; deposited in the incinerator chamber or chbers, and. with the outer area oi the mass in direct contact with-electrodes set in the inside w is oi said chamber or timbers, itis possible transmit a network of electric currents of sumcient values through and across saiddepo'sited mass to create an incandescence m of the mass and its eventual incineration.

The disintegrating effects of the electric cuin rent flow as stated, combined with the transfer" of radiant heat to the outer area of the refuse mass through heat conduction from the electrodes aforesaid; and also heat conduction from the refractory walls in which said electrodes are embedded, result in an accelerated and eflicient process of incineration of the refuse mass,-espe- V cially the central portion thereof in the chamber aforesaid. v

The system preferably utilized in practicing our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals are emplayed to designate similar parts throughout the several figures, and. in which, Fig. 1' is'a general longitudinal view of the incineration and disposal system, including the combined grinding and dewatering rollers and garbage conveyors.

Fig. 2 is a section on' a line 2-2 of Fig. 1 5 showing in section the combination grinding and. dewatering rollers and also an end view of the garbage conveyors.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1 partly in section 7 showing portions of the garbage conveyors and with the incinerator chamber entrance in an open "position to receive garbage material.

Fig. 4 is a detail view 'of the grinding and ,dewatering rollers and driving means therefor.

Fig. 5 is a view on a line 8-5 of Fig. 4 showing as the sidetension springs of the rollers, l, 5. r

Fig. 6 is asectional view on a line 6-8 of Fig. 2 showing the driving means for the conveyors. I

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view on a line 'l-I so of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of an automatic valve used in connection with the chemical spraying apparatus shown-in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the dewatering, (iii rollers 6, 1.

incinerating and chemical elements used in connection with sewage disposal.

Referring specifically to Fig. 1, I is an outline of the housing structure enclosing the garbage incineration system. 2 as a whole is the garbage dewatering and grinding chamber. 3 is the inside shell or wall thereof. I2 is the tapered inner shell at the top of chamber 3. 4, 5 are the upper dewatering and grinding rollers. 6, I are the intermediate dewatering rollers. 8, 9 are the lower dewatering rollers. II], II are partitions situated anglewise below the grinding and dewatering These partitions serve the double purpose of properly directing the garbage toward the bottom of the chamber 2, and also to divert the squeezed out liquid from the garbage into the piping system comprising pipes 68, 69 and I0.

I3 is a steam plunger which operates the shutter or gate I4, which when opened by the plunger aforesaid, permits the garbage or the like to fall on to the conveyor belt I9. The conveyor belt I9 moves on rollers 22 which roll on and are supported by platform 2 I This platform in turn is supported by bars I5 which are secured to the wall of the structure I. I6 is a hanger support for the upper conveyor roller I8. I! is the lower conveyor roller supported by bearing 66. Affixed upon the conveyor belt I9 in equidistant positions are upright strips 20. These strips serve to hold the garbage upon the conveyors after it has been discharged thereon from the chamber 2.

A storage tank 23 is employed for storing certain chemicals that have the property of being relatively good conductors for the flow of an' electric current, such as calcium chloride, ferric chloride, or similar chemical combinations and which is sprayed or combined with either the ground and dewatered refuse; or with dewatered sewage or other colloidal materials for the purpose of rendering the mixture a partial conductor of electric current as stated. 24 is the supply valve for the tank 23. 26 is an electric motor that operates the pump 21, the latter being used to pump out the chemical compound or fluid stored in chamber 23 through the automatic valve 28 (hereinafter to be described) and outward through the spray nozzle 29.

Over the opening of the incinerator chamber 36 a gate 56 is provided. This gate moves on wheels 6| which roll upon rails 62. The gate 56 is operated by steam or pneumatic plunger 49 and is controlled through the automatic valve 53 which permits steam or air pressure to flow into the plunger from the steam or air pipe 52.

39 is a lower gate to provide a means for the discharge of incinerated residue. This gate has wheels 40 which operate on rails 4|. The movement of this gate is controlled by the steam or pneumatic piston or plunger 43 controlled through the medium of valve 44. A gas outlet 48 is provided for the incinerator 36. The gas flow is controlled by valve 41. This valve is operated by steam or pneumatic plunger 45. The gates aforesaid may be electrically operated as disclosed in our pending application Serial No. 5,830 filed February 9, 1935.

Referring to Fig. 3 which is a sectional plan view of an incinerator plant. I01, I 03 are dispensing bins to provide means to distribute garbage to the several conveyors such as 33, 34 and 35. Each of the bins are provided with shutter valves similar to valve I4 shown in Fig. 1. Similarly, chemical sprayers are provided to treat garbage or other refuse material that is passi g along the respective conveyors while they are in m6tion.

The sprayers 29, 30, 3|, 32'receive a supply of calcium chloride or similar chemical for the purpose intended from the supply tank 23 through the medium of a supply pipe, and each sprayer is individually controlled by automatic valves 28 28*, 28, 28 respectively.

The garbage or similar waste material is dumped into incinerator chambers 36 39, 36, 36 Each of the cahmbers are provided with gates 56, 51, 58, 59. The inner walls of said chambers are provided with exposed looped resistor ribbons or electnodes embedded in said inner walls. A full detail of said incinerator chambers is given in pending application for patent Serial No. 5,830, filed February 9, 1935. The gate over incinerator chamber 36 is in an open position while the three other gates as shown in Fig. 3 are in closed positions. steam or pneumatic pipe. 53, 54, 55 are the automatic valves controlling pistons 49, 5!) and 5| which operate their respective incinerator gates. The opening leading into dewatering and incincrating chamber 2 can be seen in Fig. 3 into which through journal 14, the end of which being provided with a bevel gear that engages with bevel gear 11. This latter gear is mounted on a shaft that is driven by a prime source of power which may be either from a steam engine or an electric motor. The dewatering rollers II, I0 (Fig. 2), are also provided with gears 12, I3 respectively, which are driven through the medium of bevel gears I6, I8 by the power shaft aforesaid.

Between the grinding and dewatering rollers 4, 5, a spreader is placed which is held in position by a threaded bearing 94. The spreader is adjustable by means of the set screw and locknuts at 95. The grinding rollers 4, 5 press resiliently against the spreader 85. This resilient movement of the rollers aforesaid is attained by means of coiled springs 86, 81 which press against slidable members 82, 83 set in frames 80, 8|. When large masses of refuse material are thrown against the grinding rollers, the rollers areforced apart which is possible because the journal of each roller is provided with an elongated bearing as shown at 90, 9| which permits freedom of movement of the rollers away from the spreader 85 and against their respective coiled springs 86, 81. 92 is the supporting frame for the rollers, 93 are fastening rivets to secure the bars that hold the slidable members 82, 83 in their respective grooves.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 7. In these figures a portion of the conveyor 34 is shown. The conbevel gear attached to main driving shaft I09.

This shaft is operated by power means which may be a steam engine or electric motor. When the solenoid I I9 is energized, the clutch I I1 is thrown in operative contact with the shaft H4 which is operated by the main shaft I09 through the medium of bevel gears H and 1. The shaft Ill is connected up with flexible links H3, H5. .This

a shaft is supported in bearings H6 and H2.

The necessity for the flexible links is apparent in-the fact that the conveyors are fixed in. anglewise positions so that they may center at their initial loading sections contiguous to the dumping chamber 2 and tenninateover the respective incinerator chambers as shown in Fig. 3. 'A por-' tion of the link H5 is shown in Fig. 7 which is actually attached in a manner similar to flexible linkiI3inFig.6.

Referring to Fig. 8 which is a typical electrically operated automatic valve. This valve is used in connection with the chemical sprayer arrangement detailed in Fig. 1. This valve is also used in connection with the control of pistons 49,

50, 51 which are shown at 53, 54, 55 (Fig. 3). 98 is I the valve shell; 91 is the solenoid coil; 99 is the solenoid plunger armature: I02 is the valve thereof W3 is the valve seat; iMis the inlet pipe and will the outlet pipe. One automatic valve for each conveyor is provided and each valve is connected in the chemical feed pipe and automatically controls the flow of chemical material or fluid intended for spraying the garbage. When any conveyor or conveyors are not operating, the automatic valve shown in Fig. 8 will automatically shut ofi the chemical supply for that particular conveyor or conveyors; and, likewise, whenever any conveyoriis in operation, the automatic valve for such conveyor or conveyors will open, thereby permitting the proper spraying of the garbage as v already explained.

The operation of the garbage incineration system is as follows:

The garbage is dumped into the receiving chamber 2 by the truck 106. The garbage falls against the grinding and dewatering rollers 4, 5. The excess water from the garbage is drawn on into pipe 69. The garbage next falls between the rollers 6, I, and the excess water caused by squeezing of the garbage against the rollers aforesaid is drained of! pipe 68. The garbage then falls .between'rollers 8, 9, after which it falls on to the conveyor new I9, provided the-shutter valve I4- is open. The garbage by this time has yielded arlarge percentage of its moisture content thus making it'easier of incineration and the grinding process has also rendered the garbage more susceptible of chemical treatment rendering the garbage material less resistant to electric current flow therethrough.

As already stated by rendering garbage or other refuse materials-a partial conductor at least of electric current, two distinct advantagesare gained. First, the incinerating process is accelerated by a'flow of current through the garbage mass causing direct heating of the same through electric conduction. Otherwise the preliminary I heating of the mass would have to start from the heated resistor ribbons radiating the heat to the garbage in the immediate vicinity of such resistor ribbons or electrodes and gradually heating v the mass through heat conduction. Second, by

having a lesselectrical resistant material to be incinerated, it is possible to obtain a higher current value per unit of electrical energy introduced into the incinerating 'chambers. It is recognized that the higher the current the more susceptible the mass becomes to incandescence and more readily the incineration of the mass aforesaid; provided of course, and in accordance with Ohms law the resistance of the mass-to electric current flow is comparatively low. v I

eration of piston or plunger 49. The current is 5 then switched on'and the electrolyzing process begins, air being supplied to the chamber through manifold 38 to promote complete combustion. When incineration is complete, the lower door or gate 39 is opened and the residue falls into a receptacle or vehicle beneath the incinerator chamber.

' Each conveyor of the type similar to conveyors shown at 33, 3d, 35, is separately controlled so that if the upper gate or door of -a certain in- 15 cinerator is closed, the loading conveyor pertaining to that particular chamber is shut off, and likewise the valve it corresponding to the bin that feeds the conveyor aforesaid is closed.

In the event that it is desired to load any particular incinerator chamber, the upper door or gate is opened, the conveyor leading to that particular chamber is set in motion. The shutter valve it is opened releasing the garbage which chemical sprayer pertaining to that particular conveyor is started in operation spraying the garbage as it passes the sprayer arrangement. When the incinerator chamber is loaded, the door or gate is closed, and the conveyor movement is stopped, and likewise the chemical sprayer is automatically cut ed. M

In Fig. 9 is shown an adaptation of the present invention for sewage disposal. The sewage i22 passes through pipe iii and is controlled by valve i it, which, when opened permits the sewage to flow into centrifuge iii. The centrifuge or centripetal separator is well known in the art. as a machine for the continuous separation of solids from liquids and is fully described in the following and other patents: 1,572,611 Feb. 7th, 1926, 1,572,612 Feb. 9th, 1926, 1,710,316 Apr. 23rd, 1929, 1,885,735 Nov. 1st, 1932.-

The mixed'solids and liquids are rapidly revolved inside the centrifuge which is operated by motor N3, the armature'of which is shafted to the centrifuge through bearing H2. The liquid that is separated from the sewage in the centrifuge passes through pipe H5. ;Thesolids pass through pipe us into incinerator chamber no shown at I23.

The chemical treatment of the sewage is similar to spraying methods described heretofore and is performed in pipe Hi. This renders the dewatered sewage solids less, resistant to electric current flow which hastens incineration.

The electric incinerator H0 as shown in Fig. 9 is similar in detail and construction to the chamber 36 shown -in Fig. 1, except that the'upper section thereof has no moving gate, the discharge of sewage solids into the chamber III! is made through the pipe M6, the sewage solids having been dewatered and treated chemically prior to the delivery of the same through the pipe aforesaid. v

A valve H8 controls the flow of solids through the pipe 116 aforesaid. I21 is the gas outlet of the incinerator Hill, and H9 is the valve controlling the flow of gas through said gas outlet. I20 is the lower or discharge gate. 12% is the gas 'take-ofi for the centrifuge I I i.

' It will'be seen that this system is capable of considerable modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. The dewateringand grinding of garbage may be accomplished by a.

system of presses operating on receiving pans which are provided withdrain pipes to draw off liquids resulting from such pressure. The pans aforesaid may also be used as conveyors to finally deposit the refuse materials into the incinerators. The waste material may also be conveyed to the incinerators by buckets.

As stated in the specification of our previous application for patent, the heated gases flowing through gas outlets of the incinerator chambers are capable of utilization such as heating a boiler or battery of boilers for the making of steam. In the present invention the heated gases coming from the incinerator chambers, are more constant and tend to have higher temperatures. This is due to the accelerated incineration of refuse materials, first, because of the chemical treatment of refuse materials prior to being loaded into the incinerator chambers and, second, to dewatering and grinding the refuse materials.

The chemical treatment of garbage or refuse may result in the chlorination of the material. Chlorination of refuse and sewage is not new. The chemical treatment as described in this specification is for the purpose of better preparation of the refuse materials for electrical incineration; and should chlorination result therefrom,

such result is purely incidental to the main pur-' pose of chemical treatment of refuse materials. It may be stated, however, that such incidental chlorination is desirable although not an essential factor to our invention.

'I'heliquid coming from dewatered garbage or from sewage freed from excess liquid is utilizable by well known methods for the extraction of such materials as ammonia; glycerine, oils, and so forth.

Now having described our invention what we claim is- 1. In a system for the disposal of garbage, sewage or other waste materials, an incinerator chamber having electric heating and electric contacting means exposed therein; means for dewatering said waste materials; means for conveying said materials from said dewatering means to said incinerator chamber; and means for treating said waste materials with chemicals or chemical combinations thereof that have the property of rendering said waste materials susceptible to electric current flow, said treatment being performed after said waste materials shall have been dewatered and prior to being deposited into the incinerator chamber aforesaid.

2. In -a system for the disposal of garbage, sewage or other waste materials, an incinerator chamber having electric heating means exposed therein; means for dewatering said waste materials; means for conveying said materials from said dewatering means to said incinerator chamber; and means for treating the same with calcium chloride, ferric chloride or like chemicals which render said waste materials susceptible to electric current flow, said treatment being performed after said waste materials shall have been dewatered and prior to being deposited into the chamber aforesaid and electrical contacting means-in said chamber.

3. Ina system of the class described having an incinerator chamber; means for dewatering waste materials to be deposited into said chamber;

-means for treating said waste materials chemically for the purpose'of rendering the same a paritial conductor of an electric current, said treatment being performed prior to the deposit of said waste materials into said chamber; means for ing and dewatering means built in said receiving chamber; a. controllable shutter for the discharge of said receiving chamber; an incinerator chamber having exposed electrical contacting means therein; conveyor means to transfer. said refuse materials to said incinerating chamber after said refuse shall have been released by the opening of the shutter aforesaid; a controllable top door for said incinerating chamber which opens to permit the reception of the refuse materials therein; and a lower door to permit the discharge of said refuse materials after the incinerating process shall have been completed and means for chemically treating said refuse materials to render the same a partial conductor of electric current before the incinerating process.

5. In a system for the disposal of refuse materails or the like;fa main receiving chamber; grinding and dewatering means built in said receiving chambenmeans for chemically treating said refuse materials so as to render the same susceptible to the flow of an electric current; an incinerator chamber having exposed electrodes on the ing and dewatering means built in said receiving chamber; 'a controllable shutter for the outlet of said receiving chamber; a series of incinerator chambers having exposed electrical contacting means therein; conveyor means to transfer said refuse materials to said series of incinerator chambers after said refuse materials shall have been ground and dewatered, and after having been released by the opening of the shutter aforesaid; a controllable door for each of thegsaid series of incinerator chambers which opens to permit the reception of the refuse materials therein; and a lower door for each of the series of incinerator chambers to permit the discharge of said refuse materials after the incinerating process shall have been completed and means for chemically treating said refuse materials to render the same a partial conductor of an electric current before the incinerating process.

7. In a system for the disposal of refuse materials or the like; a main receiving chamber; grinding and dewatering means built in said receiving chamber; a controllable shutter for the outlet of said receiving chamber; means for chemically treating the mass of said refuse materials 'for the purpose of rendering said mass susceptible to theflow of an electric current after the same shall have been ground and dewatered; an incinerator chamber having exposed electrodes on the inner surface thereof; conveyor means to transfer the aforesaid treated refuse materials to said incinerator chamber wherein said electrodes contact with said treated refuse'materials; and means for permitting the discharge of said refuse materials after the incinerating process shall have been completed.

8. In a system for the disposal of refuse materials or the like; a main receiving chamber;

grinding and dewatering means built in said for said chemicals contiguous to said conveyor means: and valve means attached to said storing means for controlling the flow of said chemicals during the process of treating said refuse materialsprior to depositing the same into the incinerator chamber aforesaid.

9. In a system of the class described; a sewage conduit; a centripetal machine, the centrifuge of said centripetal machine piped in connection with said conduit to dewater sewage or the like entering through said conduit; valve means to control theyfiow of sewage in said conduit; anv

orifice in connection with said centrifuge, means associated with said orifice for chemically treating said dewatered sewage so as to render said sewage or the like a partial conductor to the flow of an electric ctn'rent, an incinerator having electrically heated and contacting electrodes within the same to contact with dewatered and chemically treated sewage or the like for causing an electric current to flow across and through said deposited sewage or the like and resulting in the incandescence and final incineration thereof; means for conveying the sewage solids from said centrifuge to said incinerator; and means for permittingthe discharge'of said sewage or the like after the incinerating process shall have been completed. I I

10. Inna system for the disposal of garbage, sewage or other waste materials, an incinerator chamber having electric heating and electric contacting means exposed therein; means for conveying said material to said incinerator chamber, and means for treating said waste material with electro conductive chemicals prior to entry in said incinerator chamber.

11. In a system for the disposal of garbage, sewage or other waste materials, the method of promoting incineration which comprises adding electro conductive chemical materials to said waste materials, disposing said combined ma terials in a chamber, passing an electric current through the body of combined materials to heat the materials to a combustible temperature and directing a blast of air into the body of materials being heated to produce complete combustion of the combustible contents thereof.

MAURICE BLUMENTHAL. LOUIS CASPER. 

